summer

summer winter in flight European distribution summer

Identification

The bold black and white plumage of an Oystercatcher is distinctive enough even without the long bright red bill which confirms its identity. In winter plumage they have an extra white mark on the throat.

Habitat

Breeds on grass fields and shingle beside lakes, rivers and seashores. Winters on estuaries, sandy beaches and open fields.

Behaviour

One characteristic display is their so-called 'piping display' Both members of a pair bow forwards with their bill pointing down to the ground and they utter prolonged chattering piping noises. This seems to have some function in defending the territory since, if another pair joins, in they will usually be driven away by short chases in which the birds continue piping.

Migration

Birds which breed on the coast are mostly sedentary, but those which breed inland or along the coasts of Scandinavia, move south and west in autumn, wintering mostly around the North Sea or the Irish Sea. Some may move large distances in winter, having been regularly recorded as far south as Mauretania or even Nigeria. In the UK, birds from northern Europe swell the population between July-May.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Oystercatcher is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Sanbanse, Chiba Prefecture, Japan 28/08/2010	Sanbanse, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan 28/08/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 19/08/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 20/08/2010	Oare Marshes, Kent 15/08/2010
Musselburgh Lagoons, Lothian 15/08/2010	Al Wakrah Beach, Qatar 12/08/2010	Aviemore, Highland 15/08/2010	Aviemore, Highland 15/08/2010	Leasowe, Cheshire 04/08/2010

 View all pictures of Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Belarus
Belgium
Britain
Bulgaria
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob4500.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Oystercatcher	Edit this link
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	Where's Whitey?	Wednesday 7th July 2010
	Borders Ringing Group are asking birders to look out for Whitey, the partial-albino Oystercatcher, this winter.   read on

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